Tight rope apparatus

ABSTRACT

Tightwire sports equipment suitable for use either indoors or out-of-doors. The tightwire or rope is supported at either end by apparatus including horizontal plates. A topmost plate is used for a standing platform and for rope support by having a hole therethrough. The rope curves around a portion of the plate, extends through the hole and is anchored to a base. The base may be the ground, or may be a rigid member such as a wooden beam.

United States Patent Baker et al.

[ 51 Apr. 25, 1972 [54] TIGHT ROPE APPARATUS [72] inventors: Cyril F.Baker; Florence Baker, both of 37 Willow Avenue, Rockaway, NJ. 07866 [22Filed: July is, 1969 [21]. Appl. No.: 841,907

, [52] U.S. Cl ..'...272/60 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 23/04 [58] Field ofSearch ..272/60, 1, 23-25; 182/10, 178, 179, 40; 273/26 E [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,4l9,19l 6/1922 Acker ..272/23FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 350,241 6/1931 Great Britain ..273/26 E27,240 12/1911 Great Britain ..l82/i79 Primary Examiner-Richard C.Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard J. Apley Attorney-Stephen J. Phillips[57] ABSTRACT Tightwire sports equipment suitable for use either indoorsor out-of-doors. The tightwire or rope is supported at either end byapparatus including horizontal plates. A topmost plate is used for astanding platform and for rope support by having a hole therethrough.The rope curves around a portion of the plate, extends through the holeand is anchored to a base. The base may be the ground, or may be a rigidmember such as a wooden beam.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTFDAPRZSISYE 3,658,325 SHEET 1 UF 2PATENTEBAPMS m2 3. 658,325 sum 2 [IF 2 I N VEN TORS.

TIGHT ROPE APPARATUS This invention relates to games, and moreparticularly to a tight rope game.

It is therefore the main purpose of this invention to provide a tightrope game which may be used indoors or outdoors when desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tight rope apparatuswhich will consist of support brackets and plates for holding the topetaut in order that a person may balance themselves upon it.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tight rope apparatuswhich will include bolt means for securing the support members togetherand the kit when assembled will support the user at approximately 18inches from the ground 1 level.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a tight rope apparatuswhich is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged inconstruction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will become readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the closed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the kit in open position with thecomponents removed therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing one half of the assembly with the supportsand anchor members in place ready for use indoors;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but showing the device as used and anchoredoutdoors;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the rope supports;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the kit;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing a portion of the components that arecontained within the case;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the assembly of the rope and anchorelements preparatory to use; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the rope supports shownin FIG. 8.

According to this invention, a tight rope kit 10 includes a box II inwhich is carried a rope 12 which may be round or square incross-sectional configuration. Also included in kit 10 are a pluralityof L-shaped configurated plates 13 made of steel or other suitablematerial, plates 13 in conjunction with bars 14 allowing the supportmeans for rope I2. A handkerchief 15, a parasol 16 and a bag of bolts 17are also included in kit 10 for purposes for which hereinafter will bedescribed. A telescoping balance rod 18 made of plastic can serve to aidin balancing upon rope 12 as also does the parasol 16 which may be usedinstead.

As will be seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings, a two inch by four inch base19 is used to support the elements herein described when kit 10 isassembled for indoor use. A pair of spaced apart openings 20 through themain portion of plates 13 allow for the passage of rope 12 in order toprevent it from slipping laterally when the device is in use. Rope 12 isalso carried through opening 21 of top plates 13. Through openings 23 ofbars 14 bolt fasteners 17 are received which thus secures bars 14 toplates 13. The lower ends of bars 14 when tightened to plates 13 areinserted into the ground 24 as are the anchors 25.

In use, the plates 13 are used in pairs and are spaced parallel witheach other in an oppositely opposed condition, a pair of bars beingsecured by bolts 17 to the ends of the pair of plates 13, the lowerportion of the bars extending into ground 24 and the rope 12 extendingoutwardly from plates 13, the ends of which carry the anchor 25.

The user then walks upon rope 12 by balancing himself with the parasol16, or the balance rod 18 and after practice, is able to perform trickssuch as picking up handkerchief l5 and so on.

present invention shown Looking now at FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9, you willsee a modified form of kit 26 which is contained within box 11', kit 26having a handkerchief 15', a parasol 16', a bag of bolts 17', and abalance rod 18', as well as a pair of plates 27.

Through plate 27 nylon rope 12 is carried by means of the opening 28 andlegs 29 are secured to plates 27 by means of fasteners 30.

It will be noted that nylon rope 12' is carried through hole 28 aroundthe lip 31 of plate 27 and legs 29 are provided with spike ends 32 forinsertion into ground 24 and extensions 33 of legs 29 serve to rest uponground 24 and prevent the device from sinking downwards and anchors 25'carried at the ends of rope 12' serve to keep the device rigid.

What I now claim is:

1. Tight rope apparatus, comprising, in combination:

at least one plate having at least one hole therethrough, at least aportion of said plate being disposed horizontally above a base support;

at least one bar member attached to said plate, extending downwardtherefrom and supporting said plate at a fixed distance above said basesupport; and

a rope anchored at one end to said base support by anchoring means,curved around a portion of said plate and frictionally engaged therewithand the other end extending through said hole, said rope being stretchedtaut and attached to supporting means at its said other end.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

a second plate attached to said bar member, at least a portion of saidsecond plate being disposed parallel to and resting upon said basesupport.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein:

said bar member extends downward beyond said second plate into said basesupport, thereby bracing said apparatus.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein:

said anchoring means is a stake.

5. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein:

said base support comprises an elongated rigid member resting upon ahorizontal surface; and

said second plate is attached to said elongated member at one endthereof.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein:

said elongated member comprises a wooden beam of rectangular crosssection;

and wherein said supporting means at said other end of said ropecomprises:

a third plate having at least one hole therethrough, at least a portionof said plate being disposed horizontally above said wooden beam;

at least a second bar member attached to said third plate, extendingdownward therefrom and attached to a fourth plate, said fourth plateresting upon and attached to said wooden beam at the other end thereof,and supporting said third plate at a fixed distance above said woodenbeam;

and wherein:

said rope extends through said hole in said third plate,

curves around a portion of said third plate and is frictionally engagedtherewith and is anchored to said wooden base.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein:

said bar member being bifurcated into a substantially X- shape, the twoupstanding leg portions being attached to said plate, the two downwardlydirected leg portions have at their ends thereof two extensions, one ofsaid extensions extending into said base support and the other of saidextensions resting upon said base support.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein:

said anchoring means is a stake.

9. Tight rope apparatus, comprising, in combination:

a base support comprising an elongated rigid member;

a first plate attached to said base support at one end thereof;

a second plate attached to said base support at the other end thereof;

by said second bar member a fixed distance above said second plate;

a rope attached at either end to either end of said base support, saidrope extending through the holes in said third and fourth plates andbeing stretched taut.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said elongated rigid membercomprises a wooden beam of substantially rectangular cross section.

1. Tight rope apparatus, comprising, in combination: at least one platehaving at least one hole therethrough, at least a portion of said platebeing disposed horizontally above a base support; at least one barmember attached to said plate, extending downward therefrom andsupporting said plate at a fixed distance above said base support; and arope anchored at one end to said base support by anchoring means, curvedaround a portion of said plate and frictionally engaged therewith andthe other end extending through said hole, said rope being stretchedtaut and attached to supporting means at its said other end. 2.Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: a second plate attached tosaid bar member, at least a portion of said second plate being disposedparallel to and resting upon said base support.
 3. Apparatus as in claim2 wherein: said bar member extends downward beyond said second plateinto said base support, thereby bracing said apparatus.
 4. Apparatus asin claim 3 wherein: said anchoring means is a stake.
 5. Apparatus as inclaim 2 wherein: said base support comprises an elongated rigid memberresting upon a horizontal surface; and said second plate is attached tosaid elongated member at one end thereof.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5wherein: said elongated member comprises a wooden beam of rectangularcross section; and wherein said supporting means at said other end ofsaid rope comprises: a third plate having at least one holetherethrough, at least a portion of said plate being disposedhorizontally above said wooden beam; at least a second bar memberattached to said third plate, extending downward therefrom and attachedto a fourth plate, said fourth plate resting upon and attached to saidwooden beam at the other end thereof, and supporting said third plate ata fixed distance above said wooden beam; and wherein: said rope extendsthrough said hole in said third plate, curves around a portion of saidthird plate and is frictionally engaged therewith and is anchored tosaid wooden base.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein: said bar memberbeing bifurcated into a substantially X-shape, the two upstanding legportions being attached to said plate, the two downwardly directed legportions have at their ends thereof two extensions, one of saidextensions extending into said base supporT and the other of saidextensions resting upon said base support.
 8. Apparatus as in claim 7wherein: said anchoring means is a stake.
 9. Tight rope apparatus,comprising, in combination: a base support comprising an elongated rigidmember; a first plate attached to said base support at one end thereof;a second plate attached to said base support at the other end thereof;at least a first bar member attached to said first plate and extendingupward therefrom; at least a second bar member attached to said secondplate and extending upward therefrom; a third plate, having at least onehole therethrough, attached to said first bar member and being supportedby said first bar member at a fixed distance above said first plate; afourth plate, having at least one hole therethrough, attached to saidsecond bar member and being supported by said second bar member a fixeddistance above said second plate; a rope attached at either end toeither end of said base support, said rope extending through the holesin said third and fourth plates and being stretched taut.
 10. Apparatusas in claim 9 wherein said elongated rigid member comprises a woodenbeam of substantially rectangular cross section.